64 ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD— BLACK HAWK. 



would be required in order to properly illustrate these thirty 

 specimens. According to Richardson this Buzzard arrives in the 

 fur countries in April or May and leaves in October. I have 

 generally observed it in the central portions of Canada about the 

 latter part of April and beginning of May, and have seen but 

 few individuals later than October. It frequents the same low 

 watery localities as is chosen by the Marsh Hawk or Harrier, and 

 both birds are often seen hunting together in the same fields. It 

 preys largely upon field-mice, frogs, snakes and lizards, and 

 seldom upon birds. It is a sluggish and ina'ctive bird during the 

 clay, but towards sundown and during the twilight is rather ener- 

 getic in the search for its evening repast. In this respect as 

 well as in its general mode of flight and capture of its prey, it 

 much resembles the Marsh Hawk. Indeed I have seen both 

 these birds actively engaged in hunting long after dark, and fully 

 agree with Audubon in considering the Rough-leg the most 

 nocturnal of our Falconid.e. These Buzzards are often shot by 

 the duck hunters, and brought into market ior sale, and this 

 spring (April, 1876) I obtained five specimens from this source. 

 One of these was in the dark brownish plumage, and was a very 

 large individual, the others showed indications of a passage to this 

 stagre. I have not met with its nest, and, from the fact of the 

 individuals being more numerous with us towards the latter part 

 of September and October, conjecture they nest mainly in the fur 

 countries and possibly in high latitudes. From their habits we 

 not unnaturally might expect to find them breeding in the same 

 positions as the Marsh Hawk, but this I have never observed, nor 

 have I heard of their eggs being taken in Canada. The nest is 

 said to be ordinarily built of sticks, etc., in a high tree ; but Dr. 

 Brewer has met with it on clifts. The eggs are three or four in 

 number, and measure about 2l< by i^ inches. In color they 

 vary from a dull whitish, scarcely marked, to drab or creamy, 

 " largely . blotched with different shades of brown, sometimes 

 mixed with purple slate markings." 



A number of dark individuals have been taken in several 

 parts of Canada, and the beautiful portrait given on the second 



